Trigger mechanism for duplex flexible guns



Jan. 22

c. L. PAULUS TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR DUPLEX FLEXIBLE GUNS Filed March 9, 1922 Sal i Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

cmnns vLEIGH PAULUS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TRIGGER M ISM FOB DUPLE FLEXIBLE GUNS.

Application-filed March 9, 1922. Serial 1%. 542,334

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES LEIGH PAULUS, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trigger Mechanism for Duplex Flexible Guns,.of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the trigger mechanism of flexibly mounted machine guns such as are used on aircraft.

The object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary trig er mechanism which may be mounted on tie hand grip of one gun to enable the gunner to operate or fire two guns without moving his hand from said hand grip. The auxiliary trigger mechanism may be mounted on either gun and the guns may be fired concurrently or successively.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the auxiliary trigger mechanism in its applied relation to the hand grip of a machine un;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the trigger mechanism, detached.

In the drawings 5 represents the spade handle of a flexibly mounted machine gun and6 the hand rip forming a part thereof. The spade hand e is shown as having a trigger guard 7 for the trigger of said un.

To enable a second gun to be fire by the gunner without removing his hand from the grip 6, I employ an auxiliary trigger mechanism embodying a mounting plate 8 designed to fit against the forward face of the grip 6, as shown, and preferably having spurs 9 which positively engage said grip and revent slippage of the mounting plate t e grip when, tightly clamped against the latter.

The mounting plate 8 is secured to the grip 6 by a clamp 10 in the form of a band auxiliary which passes around the grip. A clamping bolt 11 passes through the end portions 12 of the band 10 and serves also as a pivot for an auxiliary trigger 13. The plate 8 has a stop arm 14 against which the trigger normally rests as shown in Fig 1, and also has a s 0t 15 to receive the pivot knuckle 16 of the trigger.

The trigger 13 has a hole 17 therein to receive a flexible connection 18, such as a Bowden wire control, to lead to the trigger of the other gun, the connection 18 working in a flexible tubular casing 19 connecting the two guns.

The gunner places his hand on the grip 6, with lllS index finger above the guard 7 against the trigger of that gun, and his second finger against the trigger 13 of the auxiliary trigger mechanism. He may then pull either of the triggers, one at a tlme or both simultaneously. This is advantageous for the reason that with a flexible gun mount such as is now used on aircraft, the gunner must use one hand to operate the Scarf ring while his other hand is grasping the spade grip of the gun carrying the auxiliary trigger mechanism in addition to its own trigger mechanism:

I claim:

1. In combination with the spade grip of a flexibly mounted gun, an auxiliary trigger mechanism for firing another gun, sald mechanism embodying a mounting plate, a quickly detachable clampto secure said plate to the spade grip, a trigger mounted on said plate, and a flexible connection leading from said trigger to the trigger of the other gun.

2. In combination with the hand grip of a flexibly mounted'gun, an auxiliary trigger mechanism for firing another gun, said mechanism embod ing a mounting plate, a clamp to secure sai plate to the front of the' hand grip, a trigger mounted on said plate, a'bolt acting to tighten said clamp upon the hand grip, and also forming the pivot of said trigger and a flexible connection leading from said trigger to the trigger of the other gun.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signat re.

u CHARLES LEIGH PAULUS. 

